Index

In April 2014 I put together another special, themed issue of the Guide, this time dedicated to the new wave of UK independent labels. These are the new Warps, the new Ninja Tunes, and the new 4ADs and Dominos, who are defining the sound of 2014 and beyond.

I was able to commission some of my favourite writers in the country right now and I'm super proud of it. If your eyes prefer to read things online, you can see this issue's features here.

I had a bit of a cursed interview with Oakland musician Tune-Yards but one brief meeting and six or so phone calls later I made this colourful story baby. The album is one of my favourite so far this year. You can read the story on the Guardian here, too.

Hello. There I am. On the cover of the Evening Standard newspaper – available on all good tube seats across the capital. I haven't quite lived it down since, but my sister-in-law and I had one helluva over-indulgent day…

There's a reason why people say Tinie Tempah is the nicest man in rap: it's because he really, really is. In this piece for NME, originally published on July 27 2013, he tells me about working Pharrell and Dizzee and getting all inspired by Crystal Castles. No, really…

I've been temping at The Guide quite a bit this year, covering the editor, Paul, and the deputy editor, Sam, and editing a lot of the features. And here is my first cover story! It's an ode to the joys of dance, complete with guides on how to twerk, dutty wine and vogue. Click here or on the cover below – designed by the ever-brilliant Kate Moross – to see the full spread of features, which I've now uploaded to my portfolio.

It’s been nearly a year since I took the big step to go freelance. And, though I probably shouldn’t admit this to the world and thus to any potential employers out there (hiyaz!), I’ve found the transition from being a staffer and section editor to being a self-employed journalist quite challenging.

At times, I'm fancy free, skipping out to lunchtime meetings, wrapping myself up in a blanket in front of my laptop, and eating an entire pack of biscuits in fifteen minutes. At others, I've felt like a bunny bounding into a sea of piranhas, copy shredded to bits and my soft, furry self esteem ripped into one piece at a time.

But don't let that put you off. Mostly, freelancing is like a never-ending sandwich of awesome, filled with a variety of different people, publications and opportunities. The fact that it's tough makes you – or should make you – hungrier. And if you're lucky, and don't use laboured metaphors like this, then you might get some extra hot sauce at the end of it.

And so, to celebrate my first freelance birthday, I’ve written a(n exhaustive) guide to what you should know – and what I wish I'd known earlier – with a little help some freelance journalists who really know what they're talking about.

Hopefully there’s something in here for everyone, from students to staffers, and from the more obvious points worth reiterating to the stuff that no one warns you about in journo school.

Something missing? Have more tips to contribute? Please do leave your comments below. I'll most definitely be updating this as the year goes on.

Love this batshit idea. I met a man who is starting up a new company dedicated to 'live scenting' gigs. I wrote about it for the Guardian Music blog ahead of his first trial, with the band Deaf Club. Read about how he does it hereor below.

The first time I interviewed Josh Homme, I was 19 and we went shoe shopping in Camden before smoking through a pack of fags with Joey Castillo in the K-West Hotel. I'm pretty sure I almost died, both of happiness and of tar. Nearly seven years later, with their next new album, and without Joey Castillo, we spoke for 10 minutes over the phone. Times have a-changed, indeed. Read about the making of their album, Like Clockwork, over at Drowned in Sound.